“Not a joke.” Qiqi Zhu reached out and grabbed Samimi, cutting her off. “Wait, I’m not done yet. I said you should find time to go back to the Church. There’s something I still need to whisper to you.”
“What do you mean?” Samimi asked, puzzled.
“About your sister, Sashafa·Filing.” Qiqi Zhu uttered a subtle name.
“What about her?” Samimi’s face showed a look of unfamiliarity.
“The youngest Archbishop who led everyone to forge a path of glory has left. Who do you think will take her place?” Qiqi Zhu said in a grave tone. “Who do you think those fanatical worshippers of yours will elevate to the throne?”
Samimi rubbed her nose. The topic shifted far too abruptly.
“Sashafa looks eighty percent like you. Similar age, comparable abilities, both dual magic talent users, and she’s your sister. Naturally, everyone will transfer all their hopes for the Demon-Hunting Nun onto her, treating her as your substitute,” Qiqi Zhu explained.
“Isn’t that a good thing? That brat’s always clamoring about doing something great. Now’s her chance. Let her seize it, step onto the brilliant path her sister paved for her, and soar. Doesn’t that suit her? If she can’t handle it, that’s her lack of skill—nothing to do with me. The Filing family doesn’t raise failures.” Samimi showed no sympathy for her sister.
“You say it so lightly. You spineless, irresponsible brat have no right to judge your sister,” Qiqi Zhu scolded. “Right now, the Church, the Royal Family, and multiple factions are all piling pressure on her alone. She deals with the mess you left behind every day.”
“Mess? I helped you purge the poisoned blood and establish a brand-new force. Are you calling that a mess?” Samimi let out a cold snort.
“This is just a normal change of dynasty. A new batch of rulers. Whether they can make the Church better is anyone’s guess,” Qiqi Zhu said. “No matter how the Church changes, it’s fundamentally a mess. What you did with the turnover is the same.”
“If the Church goes bad, I’ll go back and personally kill the Pope I helped install,” Samimi said.
“The Pope works diligently every day. If anyone’s going to crack first, it’ll be your sister. Wait for it—you’ll come back to kill your own sister.” Qiqi Zhu had said all the advice she needed to. Whether Samimi listened was up to her. Then she turned and walked away with a casual wave.
Samimi watched Qiqi Zhu’s retreating back. The seriousness on her face gradually faded, softening.
“Qiqi Zhu, my good sister, my battle comrade. Reporting all this to me in the end. It really moves Mimi.”
“But no matter how moved I am, we’re still running.”
Samimi instantly turned into “Samimi the Runner,” disappearing with Niubao into the complex Sea of Trees. From then on, no adventurer ever saw that Angel White-Robed Pastor again.
This wasn’t their first time doing this. Their teamwork was seamless, the escape smooth.
But this escape from the South was more troublesome than fleeing the Royal City. They had to circle around all the Human Race camps, weaving left and right through the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests.
Luckily, they had already slaughtered the Abyss forces thoroughly. No monsters bothered them. The road was still relatively safe.
Finally…
The two reached the outskirts of the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests, stepping out from under those towering trees. The blinding, warm sunlight struck them, bringing a sense of unreality. It also meant they were back in civilized human society.
Inside the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests, sunlight could barely penetrate. Only faint rays slipped through the gaps in the leaves.
It was a strange sight, but only novel at first. Over time, it only felt oppressive.
Samimi had already forgotten how long she’d been inside the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests. Fighting every day, life was both exhausting and fulfilling. Staying inside too long without sunlight made her feel unwell all over. Her mind even grew hazy.
“Mimi-sama, should we go back to the Royal City?” Mino asked.
“Not yet,” Samimi shook her head. “We haven’t seen the whole land, north and south. Why rush back to prison?”
“Then where are we going now?” Mino asked again.
“Hmm… We’ll take it one step at a time,” Samimi said, leading Niubao down the dirt road.
Wherever the road led, they’d follow. They’d cross the bridge when they got to it.
Meanwhile, elsewhere…
Deep in the Sea of Ten Thousand Forests, people had just learned that Samimi and Niubao had bolted.
Most of the Radiant Squad showed little emotional reaction, though. Their response was about as flat as when they first learned that Shalum was Samimi.
Everyone has their own aspirations. None of them were children anymore. Everyone had their own ideals. No one could stop anyone from doing what they wanted.
At most, they’d offer a brief remembrance. And what everyone missed most was the honest, simple Niubao. As for that two-faced, foul-mouthed Priestess—
Get lost and never come back!
If it weren’t for the collaboration, they’d have wanted to punch her long ago.
So everyone went back to whatever they were doing. Life had to go on. The new camp sealing the Abyss still needed building. Work couldn’t stop.
Only the White-haired Witch Bemore and the Hero of the Gale Laegias couldn’t accept it. They were set on rebuilding the Hero Party, and Samimi had run off.
There was one more person deeply resentful—Shield-Axe Warrior Selina.
She was practically the first to meet those two in the South. And they left without a word, not even a goodbye.
What was that? We just formed the Radiant Squad, and you run off? Was our relationship that fragile?
Still, she reluctantly respected Samimi’s decision. After all, the Church had chased all the way to the South. Maybe there was some hardship involved.
She’d heard Samimi had fled from the Royal City, giving up even the Archbishop position. Something was definitely off there.
So Selina, Bemore, and Laegias returned to Mega-Camp No. 20 together.
The Adventurers’ Guild had urgently summoned the Hero of the Gale, saying there was something important to discuss.
When they arrived at the Guild’s secret meeting room, they found the leaders of all Ten Great Guilds present, with Guild officials presiding over the meeting.
Laegias and the others had no idea what the meeting was about.
“Hero of the Gale, Hero of the Shield and Axe, and all the heroes holding the Abyss—on behalf of the Adventurers’ Guild, I thank you for recovering the Sword of the Hero. Your courage is admirable.”
“At the same time, this means we need to select an adventurer compatible with the Sword of the Hero.”
“We’ve already discussed it with the Sorrowful Knife Guild and the Twin Heroes. They declined, citing lack of skill with the Knight Sword.”
“Miss Selina also refused ownership of the Sword of the Hero.”
“As for the Hero Sword Saint, he likewise declined, citing weapon incompatibility.”
“Thus, after days of deliberation by the Ten Great Guilds and the Adventurers’ Guild, we’ve reached a conclusion—”
“You’re the only one left, Hero of the Gale.”
“You are the most suitable wielder.”
No one gave Laegias a chance to speak. The verdict was laid flat before her in a single breath.
“Me?” Laegias was a little confused.
She had assumed the Sword of the Hero would go to a local hero in the South.
But thinking about it more, being an outsider actually made her more suitable.
If it went to any one Guild, it would tip the power balance. She was just a guest, on good terms with everyone. More of a neutral symbol of peace.
Now that the great enemy was gone and it was a critical time for co-development, the Sword of the Hero had become a hot potato.
“Well then, I’ll humbly accept.”
Laegias clasped her fists and accepted without hesitation.
The crowd immediately buzzed with discussion. Although this was the best outcome, seeing her heroic posture made some regret it anyway.
After all, her appearance was too perfect. She looked like a hero straight out of an epic.
Though everyone knew she was actually a somewhat small-minded country girl, she was a good person overall.
Two receptionists brought in a black sword case and placed it on the conference table.
“Click!”
The case opened. Its internal mechanism unfolded, revealing the Sword of the Hero lying quietly inside.
“Did Miss Aoi make this?” Laegias asked.
“Yes,” Hake replied. “A mechanical sword case specially designed for the Sword of the Hero. Are you satisfied?”
“Very satisfied. Thank you.”
Laegias closed the case, slung it over her back without ceremony.
Then she looked around at everyone. They all wore slightly strained smiles.
“I know everyone’s concerns. I won’t interfere with the development of the Southern Adventurers’ Guild. Rest assured,” Laegias said calmly. “If you need me, I’ll come at a moment’s notice. I’ll always remember everyone’s kindness. I am your most loyal ally.”
Everyone finally relaxed, breaking into smiles.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave.”
Laegias led her companions and turned to leave.
The moment they stepped out, her kind and honest expression vanished, replaced by a pout.
“I’m going to find Mimi and Mino and ask them why they left without saying goodbye!”
“Selina, want to come along?”
“Of course.” Selina agreed without hesitation.
The three left the camp immediately. They didn’t plan on staying long anyway.
“Let’s go. I’ve never left the Sea of Trees my whole life. It’s time to go out and see the outside world.”
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